Important General Studies Topics for APSC Main Exam 2013
APSC Combined Competitive (Main) Examination 2013 will start from this week (from June 28, 2014). We take this opportunity to wish you all BEST OF LUCK. The first paper is General Studies, which is common for all candidates. General studies syllabus is vast. So, there’s always chance of leaving some key points behind. For your last minute preparation, here are some important points for APSC Mains 2013 General Studies paper. Hope candidates will find them useful.
Important Topics for APSC Mains General Studies Paper:
Following are 10 important topics for the APSC combined competitive mains paper. We are trying to explain each topic by giving few key points. Probable questions are also mentioned at the end of each topic. One or two paragraphs may not be enough for long answers. So, candidates may use the following information just as a revision reference or as reminder of key points.
1. GST (Goods and Services Tax):
In 2005 the state sales taxes in India were replaced by the Value Added Tax (VAT). The VAT system was based on a 1994 report of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, prepared by a team led by Dr. Amaresh Bagchi. The report did mentioned that VAT is not a best solution and India should adopt a more rational system. Now the Centre and state governments are preparing to introduce that rational system in the form of GST (Goods and Services Tax).
So, GST is a part of the proposed tax reforms which Centre wants to implement in order to achieve an efficient and uniform consumption tax system in India. As per plan, ‘Dual’ Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be levied by both levels of government. GST would replace CENVAT, Service Tax and the VAT levied by the states.
Questions: What is GST? Write it’s advantages and disadvantages. Describe challenges in implementation of GST.
2. NIA (National Investigation Agency):
A federal agency formed after the severe 2008 Mumbai terror attack. It was formed under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 to deal with terrorism. The whole country comes under the jurisdiction of NIA. It will probe all kind of terror attacks and plans that could challenge the sovereignty and integrity of the country. NIA is given power to investigate terror related issues even without obtaining prior permissions from the states.
Questions: What is NIA? Explain it’s role in curbing the problem of terrorism. Why some states opposed NIA?
3. E-governance:
E-governance is the application of information and communication technology (ICT) to improve efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in entire government framework. E-governance is expected to help in government-to-citizens (G2C), government-to-business (G2B) and government-to-government (G2G) interactions. It would also empower citizens by providing them easy access to information.
E-government is the use of the ICTs to improve public services and democratic processes and to strengthen support to public. On the other hand, e-governance is the use of the technologies to help both the government and the public. E-government is one-way communication protocol whereas e-governance is two-way communication protocol.
Questions: What do you mean by E-governance? How e-governance differs from e-government? Write about e-governance initiatives of Indian government.
4. Sevottam model:
Sevottam is a Service Delivery Excellence model framework. It has been developed to improve the quality of public service delivery in India. Sevottam was first proposed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). The term Sevottam is a combination of two Hindi words: “Seva” meaning “Service’” and “uttam” meaning “excellence”. he model has three main components: Citizen Charter, Public Grievance Redress Mechanism and Service Delivery Capability. Each component is accessed on the basis of three criteria, which again consists of several elements.
From April 2009 to June 2010, the Sevottam framework was first implemented in 10 Govt departments – Dept of Post, CBEC, CBDT, Railways, Passport office, Pensions, Food Processing, Corporate Affairs, Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools and EPFO. Later it covered several other departments. Now many states are implementing this model in different sectors.
Questions: What is Sevottam model? Write about the implementation of Sevottam model in different sectors.
5. Environmental Impact Assessment:
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development. Use of EIA in India started with the impact assessment of river valley projects in 1978-79. EIA is now mandatory under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 for developmental activities involving investments of Rs. 50 crores and above. Expert Committees are constituted for the following sectors: Mining Projects, Industrial Projects, Thermal Power Projects, Nuclear Power Projects, River Dam Projects and Infrastructure Development & Miscellaneous Projects.
Once an application has been submitted by a project authority, all submitted documents are examined by the technical staff of the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Then the application is referred to the Environmental Appraisal Committees, which evaluate the impact of the project based on the data furnished. If necessary, site visits or in-situ assessment of environmental aspects are also done. The Committee then make recommendations for approval or rejection. Those recommendations are finally approved or rejected by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. If there’s no discrepancies in the project documents, a decision is taken within 90 days. In order to ensure proper implementation of the recommendations, the Ministry monitors all cleared projects. Monitoring also helps in ensuring adequacy of all the suggested measures and also provides an option to recommend mid-course modifications, if any.
Questions: What is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)? Why it is important? Describe the procedure of EIA?
6. Instant Money Order (iMO):
iMO is an instant web based money transfer service through Post Offices (iMO Centre) in India between two resident individuals in Indian territory. Can be used to transfer money from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 50,000. Option to send standardised messages with the money order.
In order to remit a sum of money, the sender fills up the “To Remit Payment” (TRP-1) form and submits it at iMO Post Office Counter along with the money. iMO Counter books the order and provides a printed receipt with computer generated confidential 16 digit iMO number (in a sealed condition). Sender is required to give the confidential 16 digit iMO number to the receiver (over phone, SMS, e-mail, etc.). Receiver presents the 16 digit iMO number at any designated iMO post office counter, fills up and submits a “To Make Payment” (TMP-1) form along with a copy of his personal identity proof. In this way, receiver can get the payment in cash upto Rs. 50,000. He can also receive the amount through his post office savings bank account in the same iMO office.
Questions: What is Instant Money Order? Explain the procedure of remittance via iMO?
7. India’s Look East policy:
India’s Look East policy represents its efforts to develop extensive economic and strategic relations with the Southeast Asian nations. The goal is to present itself as a regional power and counterweight the increasing strategic influence of China. Look East Policy was developed during the government of P. V. Narasimha Rao in 1991. The later governments also followed the policy.
Questions: Explain Look East Policy. Examine it’s relevancy in today’s world.
8. Jan Lokpal Bill :
Jan Lokpal Bill is an anti-corruption bill, drafted and promoted by social activists lead by Anna Hazare. Through this bill, the activists wanted the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body to investigate corruption in government. The Jan Lokpal Bill covered several points that were either ignored or used in modified form in the Govt pushed Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013. For example: covering PM and judiciary in the jurisdiction of Lokpal, whistle-blower protection, citizen charter etc.
Questions: How Lokpal Bill differs from Jan Lokpal Bill?
9. Composite Development Index:
In 2013, the Union government formed a committee headed by Mr. Raghuram Rajan, now RBI Governor, to suggest ways to identify indicators of the backwardness of the States. The indicators would help in equitable allocation of Central funds. The panel recommended a new index of backwardness, which is also known as Composite Development Index (Underdevelopment/ Need Index). The committee has proposed an index of backwardness composed of 10 equally weighted indicators: (i) monthly per capita consumption expenditure, (ii) education, (iii) health, (iv) household amenities, (v) poverty rate, (vi) female literacy, (vii) percent of SC-ST population, (viii) urbanization rate, (viii) financial inclusion, and (x) connectivity.
The index reveals that Goa is India’s most developed State (0.05) and Odisha is most backward (0.80) . Assam got 0.71 score. Gujarat is also one of the “less developed” States with 0.49 score. The report recommends that each states gets 0.3% of overall Central funds and of the remaining 91.6%, three-fourths be allocated based on need and one-fourth based on the State’s performance (reviewed every 5 years.
Questions: What is Composite Development Index?
10. Crimean Crisis:
The Crimean crisis came into limelight in early 2014. But the actual trouble started when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych rejected to sign an association agreement with European Union. Yanukovych instead opted for a Russian package which was more generous compared to EU one. This lead to anti-govt protests by Ukrainians (who supported EU association). It later took the shape of a revolution. In February, Yanukovych fled his country and Ukrainian parliament appointed a new interim President – Oleksandr Turchynov.
Russia refused to recognize the new interim government. Russian forces started to take control of the Crimean Peninsula. Crimea is an autonomous region in Eastern Ukraine. About 60% of it’s population are Russians. Russia justified the military movement citing safety of Russian people and it’s military base in Crimea. In the meantime, Crimean people also started to express their anger against Ukranian govt. Crimean parliament voted to dismiss the Crimean government, replaced its Prime Minister, and call a referendum on Crimea’s autonomy. On March 16 a referendum on status of Crimea was held and people voted to join Russian. Next day Crimea declared independence.
But Ukranian govt termed the referendum unconstitutional. United Nations on March 28 declared the March 16 referendum invalid, saying it violated the Ukrainian constitution. On April 15, the Ukrainian parliament declared Crimea as a territory temporarily occupied by Russia. Indian government took balanced act on the situation in Ukraine. India has good diplomatic relationship with Russia. So, India supported the annexation of Crimea calling it as the choice of Crimean people. Indian abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly’s resolution against Russia.
Questions: What is Crimean Crisis? Describe the situation that lead to the crisis. What’s India’s stand on it?
Some more topics, people in news etc:
Chandi Prasad Bhatt: Chandi Prasad Bhatt is an Indian Gandhian environmentalist and social activist. He founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh in Gopeshwar in 1964, which later became a mother-organization to the Chipko movement. In 2013, Indian government awarded Bhatt with the 2013 Gandhi Peace Prize.
Yingluck Shinawatra: Yingluck Shinawatra was a former prime minister of Thailand. In 2011, she became first female Prime Minister of the Asian country. On 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Court of Thailand ordered Shinawatra to resign following months of political crisis.
UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation mobile cellular system for networks based on the GSM standard. It is developed and maintained by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). UMTS uses wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) radio access technology to offer greater efficiency and bandwidth to mobile network operators.
Polar Vortex: A polar vortex is a persistent, large cyclone located near one or both of the geographical poles of a planet. On Earth, the polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere. Two polar vortices in Earth – Arctic Vortex and Antarctic Vortex.
Subansiri Lower Dam: officially named Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), is an under construction gravity dam on the Subansiri River. It is located near Gerukamukh village in Lower Subansiri District on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh states. Commissioned by NHPC, the dam is 162m high and 284m long. Once completed, the project will produce 2000 MW power.
National Food Security Act, 2013: is an Act which aims to provide subsidized food grains to two thirds of India’s population (67% population). It was signed into law September 12, 2013, retroactive to July 5, 2013. The bill has been highly controversial. Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries are to be able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the following prices: Rice at INR3 per kg; Wheat at INR2 per kg and Coarse grains (millet) at INR1 per kg.
National River Linking Project (NRLP): is an ambitious project to transfer water from the potentially water surplus rivers to water scarce Western and Peninsular river basins in India. The goal is to end water shortages in Western and Southern India, while mitigating the impacts of recurrent floods in Eastern India. The NRLP proposes to build 30 river links to connect 37 Himalayan and Peninsular rivers. India’s first river linking project was officially innaugurated in February, 2014. It is Narmada-Kshipra link in Madhya Pradesh.
Please send some recent topics for GS.
Please post Sociology prelims 2014 answer keys
Thank you
@anurag,
We added a new page related to APSC 2009 cutoff. There you can find categorywise cutoff score for various posts. Find it here http://www.assams.info/career/apsc-2009-final-cutoff-marks-main-interview
Can anyone provide us with the previous year’s cutoff for:
1. Mains
2. Mains + Interview
for all the categories of students in 2009 and prior to that if anyone has the accurate data.
Freinds, As there are lesser candidates than previous years can we expect less cut off marks this year?? I am afraid because Final Cut off was around 960 in 2011.
ACS-961
APS-938
Superintendent of Taxes-961
Superintendent of Excise-957
Tax Inspector-871
Excise Inspector-927
Gen 680, OBC 602, – ctoff for mains 2011 excluding interview
Deae Admin,
What was the cut off mark for gen cat candidates in the previous mains exam of APSC?
How much should we expect the same to be, this year?
Please enlighten!
SOME other important possible questions-
1. Elnino and its affect in Indian Economy/polity/agriculture.
2.Suggestions to stop rhino poaching.
3.Anything on inflation like types,causes..
4.Upper house and its utility in Assam..Though came last year but still important.Also see constitutional procedures in creation and the limitation of upper house.
5.Reorganisation of states in Assam and Ne in the light of creation of Telengana. Also the crimean issue important as rightly mentioned by Adminstration..Also on 16th LS election/ role of EC..
Sir, More Send G.S question n ans before exam.
Oops! Did I missed something? I guess yes. Not the above mentioned points, but something related to them. BTW as per the latest APSC notification, everyone will be frisked before entering the exam hall. Better keep your mobiles and gadgets at home.
All the best to all APSC Mains candidates.
THANKS A LOT. THESE TOPIC WILL BE BENIFITED TO THE ASPIRANT OF APSC 13
Thanks for the information. Doing my revision on the net. Your update definitely covered important topics. I wish there were more! Apart from the above, I want to add following:
Rhino Dehorning and Rhino Poaching
Majuli and World Heritage Status
North East United FC
Assamese on top of Everest
Horse trading in politics
Malaysian Airlines plane missing